Exploring Our Urban Forests - Juniper Elementary

This film showcases Exploring our Urban Forest—A nature/school yard based curriculum at Juniper Elementary School in the Escondido Unified School District. Teachers are working with a nature coordinator to implement hands-on, nature-based science curriculum using the nature in their very own school yard. This program is funded by Calfire and sponsored by San Diego Children and Nature and San Diego Science Alliance and will provide teachers with the tools to continue this method of nature- based teaching well beyond the grant funding. Our objective is to promote the use of these lessons by teachers throughout the district and to show that these lessons are easy to use, engaging, hands-on and experiential. We also want to demonstrate that any schoolyard can be used for these lessons. One tree, by itself, is considered and urban forest and can support an ecosystem made up of plants and animals.

Hosted by:
Judie Lincer, Program Manager, San Diego Children and Nature Collarorative

Special Thanks:
Anita Roberts, kindergarten teacher
Karen Sleichter, kindergarten teacher
and the children of Juniper Elementary School

Produced for the San Diego Children and Nature Collarorative
Funding provided through a Calfire grant
Produced, filmed & edited by Jim Karnik Films